How To Protect The Most Often “Overlooked” Survival Gear You’ll Ever Have

As survivalists, we try our best to stay in shape and to live a healthy lifestyle. We exercise and eat healthily. Meanwhile, in the back of our minds, we are hoping that the next generation is paying attention as we teach them all we know about surviving. Let’s face it, our world is changing daily. Down the road, we all hope that our good health and physical endurance will get us through the SHTF days. However, even when we’re completely focused on prepping our bodies, we forget about one of our most important resources: our eyes. Eye health will be especially important when we have to rely purely on our survival skills and instincts.

Your Secret for Survival: Maintain Great Eye Health

Even I’m guilty of not paying enough attention to eye health. My eyesight isn’t what it used to be. I do, however, realize that needs to change. Starting today!

In this article, I will cover things we can all do to take proper care of our eyes. You’d be amazed how much can contribute to poor eye health. Anything from prolonged use of the computer to a poor diet can cause eye health degeneration.

*I need to be clear that I am not a doctor and none of these are surefire methods for helping your eyesight, these are just good habits to start that could help maintain a healthy body, mind, and eyes.

If you notice any major issues with your eyes, please see a doctor immediately. It’s better to address these issues and find a solution now before a crisis happens.

Eat Healthy

Healthy eyes start with a healthy diet. Vitamins C and E, along with nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and lutein are a great place to start! These vitamins and nutrients will help fight against age-related vision issues later in life, such as cataracts and macular degeneration.

Consider adding these foods to your diet. They’re loaded with the vitamins and nutrients I listed above:

Salmon

Oysters

Tuna

Pork

Eggs

Beans

Nuts

Citrus fruits

Leafy vegetables such as: collard greens, spinach, and kale

These foods will also help you maintain a healthy weight, which will lower the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes. The leading cause of adult blindness is caused by type 2 diabetes.

Take Breaks From The Computer- Often!

Prolonged periods of staring at a computer and/or phone screen can cause the following:

Eye strain

Inability to focus

Dry eyes

Blurred vision

Headaches

If you’re at a computer for long periods of time, here are some things you can do to keep your eyes protected:

Having glares on your screen from other light sources, such as windows or lamps, can cause eye strain. Move your screen accordingly to avoid glares. Also, consider getting a screen that is anti-glare.

If your eyes become dry, make a conscious effort to blink more.

If you can, try to rest your eyes about every half hour. A good exercise for resting your eyes is to look away from the screen for 20 seconds while staring at an object about 15-20 feet away.

A 15 minute break every two hours will also prevent eye strain.

Quit Smoking

Smoking cigarettes can cause severe damage to your eyes. Smoking can lead to such extremes as macular degeneration, cataracts, and optic nerve damage.

If you’ve had a difficult time with quitting in the past, speak with your primary care physician for help.

Protect Your Eyes With Sunglasses

Prolonged UV exposure can be so damaging to your eyes and can greatly increase your chances of getting cataracts and macular degeneration.

How to choose the right sunglasses:

Be sure to pick sunglasses that block 99-100% of UVB and UVA rays.

Consider wrap-around lenses, as they will offer protection to the side of your eyes.

Consider eye contacts that have UV protection. To add more protection, you should still wear sunglasses with your UV contacts.

Protect Your Eyes With Safety Eye Gear

Wearing safety eye gear in an environment with airborne and/or hazardous materials is a must! Certain airborne and hazardous materials can cause severe and permanent damage to your eyes.

Certain sports also can cause eye injury. Wear eye goggles with polycarbonate lenses or a helmet that has a protective face mask to prevent eye injury.

Get Regular Eye Exams

People of all ages need a yearly eye exam. Getting a yearly exam is necessary to keep your eyesight at its very best. Also, by getting an exam once a year, the doctor can detect any possible eye conditions or diseases, like glaucoma. If a possible eye condition or disease is caught early, they are easier to treat.

Why It’s Important

As any good survivalist will admit, being prepared for when TSHTF is as much about caring foryour body as it is about what you know. Maintaining good eye health is an often overlooked, but still vital, part of that necessary physical fitness plan. Implement these tips into your life, and you’ll be sure to spot trouble and its solutions a mile away.

Do you have some advice regarding keeping your eyes healthy and at their best? Share with us in the comments below.

Checkout these other articles to keep your eyes looking and feeling their absolute best!

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